Sail Training Programme Evaluation

A Self Assessment Tool for Vessel Operators

Project Update: January 2012

Sail Training International and our member national organisations are committed to improving standards and promoting sail training to a wider audience. As part of this commitment, the Sail Training Programme Evaluation Self-Assessment Toolkit was launched at our Annual Conference in Stavanger in November of 2010 and has since been distributed to more than 120 operators and interested stakeholders around the world. Informal translations into Spanish, German and Danish by operators and NSTOs have also increased the possibilities for operators, staff and crew to understand the ‘language’ of sail training and to apply the toolkit in their programmes and practices.

At the Sail Training International Annual Conference in Toulon in November 2011, the 2nd Edition of the toolkit was distributed to workshop participants as they continue the conversation about improving sail training practices (download pdf by clicking here) . Operators remain positive about the contribution the toolkit makes to programme improvement, and conversations are underway about how to expand the application of the principles and practices to promoting further research and gathering data about the value and positive impact of youth development through sail training.

Sail Training International has an on-going commitment to supporting the use and development of the toolkit. We invite all operators to let us know how the toolkit has made a difference in your work with young people and how it can be improved to make a more positive impact. We also are looking for case studies and examples of sail training practices that can be added to future editions.

We will continue to look at future research opportunities and building on the work to date. We invite your comments about what will be useful for your programmes and practices, and ask all sail training operators to make a contribution to ensuring sail training is a recognised and valued approach to improving outcomes for young people around the world.

Sail Training International and our member national organisations remain committed to improving standards and promoting sail training to a wider audience. As part of this commitment, the Sail Training Programme Evaluation Self-Assessment Toolkit was launched at our Annual Conference in Stavanger in November of 2010 and has since been distributed to more than 120 operators and interested stakeholders around the world. Informal translations into Spanish, German and Danish by operators and NSTOs have also increased the possibilities for operators, staff and crew to understand the ‘language’ of sail training and to apply the toolkit in their programmes and practices.

Feedback has been rolling in from operators who are using the Toolkit to look at how they might improve their performance and the positive impact for young people. The feedback is positive about the value that can be derived from a this framework for programme improvement and the common language for youth development through sail training. We are pleased to see how many operators have shown their commitment to improving sail training practices to achieve positive outcomes.

Operators who have used the toolkit also say they would benefit from having examples and case studies that demonstrate sail training practices from around the world. Several operators have provided descriptions and examples that illustrate the key practices in ways that can be universally recognised. Making the language as user-friendly as possible and easier to translate will also help operators see how the principles and practices apply in their own programmes and situations.

The creators of the Toolkit are gathering examples and making revisions that will be published in the Second Edition due to be available at the Annual Conference in Toulons this November. Anyone who wishes to provide input to this important publication or has an example of good practice to share should contact Kris, Pete or Paul.

Importantly, at the Annual Conference in November a series of special workshops will be held to provide specific training for those who are interested in using the toolkit and capturing the results that communicate impact. More information about the training workshop will be found in the conference programme.

We look forward to hearing from you about your sail training practices and programmes and how the use of the Toolkit has made a difference in your work with young people!